Current Section

New Foil Chest Protector Rule to be Implemented This Summer

On April 12, the USA Fencing Board of Directors approved a change to the USA Fencing Rules of Competition regarding chest protectors for foil fencers.

Per Section m.25.4(c):

“At all weapons, the use of a breast/chest protector (made of metal or some rigid material) is compulsory for women and optional for men. At foil, this breast/chest protector must be worn below the protective plastron. At foil, the protector will have the following characteristics: The entire outside of the chest protector (the side facing the opponent) must be covered with a soft material such as E.V.A. (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) of four mm thickness and density of 22kg/m3. (The material can be attached to the current plastic models or incorporated into the manufacture of new chest protectors). The material must have the SEMI technical mark at the center of the upper edge.”

This rule is in line with the rule change made at the 2017 FIE Congress which began implementation at the 2018 Junior and Cadet World Championships. The rule is applicable to foil fencers ONLY.

The change will be effective beginning with the USA Fencing National Championships and July Challenge on June 28, 2018 for all Division I, Cadet Junior and Veteran USA Fencing national events.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2018, the rule will take effect for ALL USA Fencing sanctioned events.

For more information on how to place an order for the new chest protector from one of USA Fencing’s vendors, please visit the websites below: